Updates from Laura from India - May 13th

So, here I am! The trip started well with me feeling like I was flying in first class: Turkish Airlines had a welcoming treat, three course menu and wine to go with it. Soon enough the royal feeling faded though and I got grumpy because I didn’t manage to sleep and the weather between Istanbul and Delhi was quite crazy. I didn’t really know if I should have been mesmerized or shit scared of how the lightnings looked on a cloudy night sky, probably both. Anyhow, the flight was late because of the weather and I was quite stressed whether or not I’d make my connecting flight since I had to collect my luggage in between myself as I had bought the flight to go to the south separately. Don’t ask why. I don’t know what I was thinking of when I thought I might take the bus or something from Delhi to here. It would've taken me days to get here and I was (and am) already so overwhelmed by all this that I was quite happy when they came to pick me up from the airport after having been on five airports within 24 hours. Anyway, today they let me catch up on my sleeping and look around which was really nice but it also gives me way too much time to think why am I here. I have my own room with bathroom, TV and air-conditioning and the cook prepares us these amazing Indian dishes. I just have to sit to the table and enjoy. They don’t even let me wash the dished. It’s really like being on a really twisted holiday. So, I’m really happy that the work will start the day after tomorrow to get rid of this western tourist feeling that I have. Or at least I have less time to think about these feelings. But I guess that’s what it’s like to be a development worker sometimes. But tomorrow I still have a day off so I’m gonna go and see some more of the village and find out where the sea is, it should be only a 10-15 minutes’ walk. All in all, I’m so excited to be here, but it will definitely take some time to get used to everything, especially since I’m the only foreigner here. The place is awesome, there are chickens and other birds walking around and everybody lives in here right next to the office. And when you go out from the gate there are goats and cows walking around looking for food. It’s such a different world compared to back home and I can’t wait to see more! Lots of love to you all !